2023
Maridi County Receives 2nd Runner-up, Miss Little Africa
By Bongomin Walter Joshua
As South Sudan will join the rest of the world to mark the June 5th International Environment Day, Rita Joy Samantha will have an amazing and incredible story to tell. The ten-year-old South Sudanese who is 2nd runner up, miss little Africa 2022/2023 is currently in Maridi to fulfill her goal of planting 100 trees before 5/6/2023.
Rita, who also miss little ambassador for the environment, has come to Maridi as a volunteer to the Africano Mande Foundation (AMF) organization, and together with her team, they will plant trees across Maridi town. She has already planted 31 trees in the compound of the South Sudan National Revenue Authority (NRA), Juba, with the help of NRA Assistant Commissioner General, Honorable Africano Mande Gedima.
AMF executive director, Sami Charles Mande acquainted Rita with the activities that are being carried out by two of the organization’s departments (technical service and production). AMF is a nonpolitical, nongovernmental, and legacy Foundation named after Africano Mande Gedima, the first governor of Maridi state.
Rita Joyce Samantha was crowned as the 2nd runner up, miss little Africa 2022/2023, in a beauty competition that was held in South Africa making South Sudan number three in Africa out of 54 contestants.
2023
Coaches, Referees, and Football Administrators Commence Training in Maridi
By Bongomin Walter Joshua
Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative (WPDI), in partnership with the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA), launched a five-day training for referees, coaches, and administrators in Maridi. The exercise, which is being conducted at the Maridi Women resource center and facilitated by FIFA coaches’ instructor Dr. Salyi Lolaku Samuel and his counterpart from the referees’ department, Mr. Sadiq Repent William runs from Wednesday, May 24th – 29th 2023.
Speaking during the official opening of the training, the commissioner of Maridi County, Honorable Miiri Alfred emphasizes that sports are a unifying factor adding that there is no segregation, discrimination, or nepotism in sports
The program co-coordinator for WPDI, western Equatoria state, Mr. Mande Daniel said 24 coaches, 12 referees, and 10 football administrators are currently taking the course under a project “peace through sports”.
Mande further describes the importance of the project, “as a peace organization, we are able to unite the youth and once they are empowered in all aspects, they can build this country, develop it and take it to a higher level.”
Nora Viola, one of the trainees aspiring to become a professional match official, said she hopes to acquire more knowledge on how to control a football match and the laws that govern the beautiful game.
The two-year pilot project starts today and once the training is done, there will be a peace engagement day, and thereafter 12 football teams will be formed to participate in a peace tournament, 6 for girls and six for boys. A total of 204 players from the 12 teams will receive sports supplies courtesy of WPDI once the training comes to an end.
The organization is looking for funding to take the project to other counties of western Equatoria state. Maridi, Juba, and Torit have been selected in the Republic of South Sudan to pilot the project.
2023
CODEP Inaugurates Borehole at Gangura Payam
By Baraka John
Hundreds of members of the community at Gangura Payam gathered on Monday 22nd May to witness the official inauguration of a water point in the area constructed by the Catholic Organization for Peace and Development (CODEP).
In early February this year, CODEP launched a wash project aimed at digging seven boreholes in different locations in Western Equatoria State. The targeted areas include Maridi, Mambe, Yambio, Gangura, and Ezo.
The project being funded by the Sudan Relief Fund is with the sole objective to curb the shortage of water in the targeted location.
Speaking during the inauguration, Rev. Fr. Mbikoyo Charles the director of CODEP applauded the Catholic Diocese of Tambura-Yambio for his tremendous efforts in initiating the wash project to save the lives of communities as well facilitate the work of the Church.
Fr. Charles urged the Christians and community of Gangura Payam to sustain the new borehole through monitoring its functionality to enable long-lasting and providing support to them and the parish priest.
On his part, Mr. Phillip Paulino the Deputy Payam Administrator on behalf of the Payam Administrator stated that the community in the area had been struggling for many years to access clean drinking water which mostly forced them to work long distances to access water points.
The community was spotted jubilating and appreciating the Diocesan initiative to respond to the immediate need of the people in Gangura Payam.
At the inauguration ceremony were the community and Parishioners from Corpus Christi Catholic Church Gangura, CODEP’s deputy director Mr. Ngbaanisa Davide Ariyot coordinator, Davide Rusano Chairperson PPC at Corpus Christi Catholic Parish, Gaaniko Denel Elias youth among others.
2023
A Call for Prayers, Fraternal Closeness, and Solidarity to the People of Sudan from the Office of Episcopal Vicar
The conflict, which began on April 15, has displaced almost 1.1 million people internally and into neighboring countries, living them without basic needs, the office of the Episcopal Vicar for Refugees, Immigrants, Migrants, IDPs, in the Catholic Diocese of Tombura – Yambio has launched an appeal inviting all Diocesan personnel and people of goodwill to donate Food, shelter and other essential aid, health services, and kind attitudes and receptions, to open doors of all Catholics Schools including the senior Seminary and admit pupils and students without charges.
In a letter signed by Fr. Dominic Agbia Sasa, the Episcopal Vicar for refugees, Immigrants, Migrants, and IDPs, directed that “during the coming Pentecost Sunday celebration all over our diocese, second collections are carried out to support our brothers and sisters in Sudan. I ask the Humekodabe Foundation plus the Finance Department, to assist in awareness of this appeal and subsequent follow-up of the resource’s mobilization”.
The CDTY expresses their fraternal closeness and solidarity to Archbishop Michael Didi, His Lordship Trile Tombe of El Obeid, Auxiliary Bishop of Khartoum H.L. Daniel Adwok, Cardinal Zubeir Wako, Archbishop Louis, the Apostolic Nuncio to Sudan, all the Church personnel, entire Christian Faithful in Sudan as well as to all the people of God who live in Sudan. With them, we share the sufferings of all the severely affected people.
The letter further explained that the “Archdiocese of Khartoum and Diocese of El-Obeid, continue to bear the pressure as more people knock at the door seeking support, some are lost in the wilderness, trapped in the bombarded city of Khartoum and other major cities”.
In the letter shared with Rurugene online, the office of the Episcopal Vicar stated that “they endeavor to extend a helping hand, to be a sign of hope to families grappling with the effects of the civil war in the different parts of the Archdiocese and El-Obeid and beyond as part of our call to Christian charity and evangelization”.
2023
CIDA has Trained Over 30 Media Personnel in Yambio on Strengthening the Capacity of Media Organizations
By Joseph Ernesto
The Community Initiative Development Association trained over 30 journalists in Yambio capital of Western Equatorial State on Wednesday, May 24, 2023.
The training aimed at strengthening the capacity of media organizations on transitional justice processes in the greater Equatorial region and building peace through promoting inclusive and participatory transitional justice processes and mechanisms in South Sudan.
Speaking during the launching, the project manager of the CIDA Mrs. Juan Jackline Sadarack said the project’s overall objective is to strengthen the capacity of media and Journalists in the transitional justice process.
Jackeline added that the project will train and support Radio stations to conduct outreach and distribute information on transitional justice at both national and local levels.
For his part, the director general at the state ministry of information and communication Zingbondo Jeremiah said that the project has come at the right time for building the Journalists in the state because they are operating in an environment that is not favorable for them with the current multi-government system in South Sudan.
The acting state minister of information Hon. Bazia Beneth reveals that as CIDA is going for capacity building of Journalists, they should also give them equipment for their work to allow them to disseminate Constitutional Justice Making process to the community.
He further warned Journalists to stay away from politics and be neutral while writing stories.
This project is targeting 150 stakeholders of media organizations and Journalists, about 12 community radio stations, national TV, social media platforms, printing companies, and over 150 Journalists across the three states.
In addition, it’s estimated that over 3,900,000 people across the region will be reached through talk shows programming in local languages and programming targeting women, girls, PWDs, IDPs, and marginalized groups in Western, Central, and Eastern Equatoria States.
2023
A Call for Prayers, Fraternal Closeness, and Solidarity to the People of Sudan from the Office of Episcopal Vicar
The conflict, which began on April 15, has displaced almost 1.1 million people internally and into neighboring countries, living them without basic needs, the office of the Episcopal Vicar for Refugees, Immigrants, Migrants, IDPs, in the Catholic Diocese of Tombura – Yambio has launched an appeal inviting all Diocesan personnel and people of goodwill to donate Food, shelter and other essential aid, health services, and kind attitudes and receptions, to open doors of all Catholics Schools including the senior Seminary and admit pupils and students without charges.
In a letter signed by Fr. Dominic Agbia Sasa, the Episcopal Vicar for refugees, Immigrants, Migrants, and IDPs, directed that “during the coming Pentecost Sunday celebration all over our diocese, second collections are carried out to support our brothers and sisters in Sudan. I ask the Humekodabe Foundation plus the Finance Department, to assist in awareness of this appeal and subsequent follow-up of the resource’s mobilization”.
The CDTY expresses their fraternal closeness and solidarity to Archbishop Michael Didi, His Lordship Trile Tombe of El Obeid, Auxiliary Bishop of Khartoum H.L. Daniel Adwok, Cardinal Zubeir Wako, Archbishop Louis, the Apostolic Nuncio to Sudan, all the Church personnel, entire Christian Faithful in Sudan as well as to all the people of God who live in Sudan. With them, we share the sufferings of all the severely affected people.
The letter further explained that the “Archdiocese of Khartoum and Diocese of El-Obeid, continue to bear the pressure as more people knock at the door seeking support, some are lost in the wilderness, trapped in the bombarded city of Khartoum and other major cities”.
In the letter shared with Rurugene online, the office of the Episcopal Vicar stated that “they endeavor to extend a helping hand, to be a sign of hope to families grappling with the effects of the civil war in the different parts of the Archdiocese and El-Obeid and beyond as part of our call to Christian charity and evangelization”.
2023
Governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba, “You are Going to Receive Electric Power in Just Two Months from Now”
By Arkangelo Rangabia
At the launching of the “Yambio Power Plant” on Wednesday 17th May 2023 at Uze in the Northern part of Yambio, Governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba, the governor of Western Equatoria State promised the community members that they will receive electric power in two months from now.
“You are going to receive electric power in just two months from now, this power will be supplied to all your business points, residents, and institutions at a small cost that is affordable to all”.
Governor Futuyo noted that the Power Plant project is a long-awaited project since 2005. “This had been a long-awaited power since 2005 under several leadership and this time we assure you that you will have light soon”, he explained.
He urged the general public to protect every material around the company and to take care of the lines to protect them from destruction.
He also urged them to collaborate with the companies to allow them to carry out their duties peacefully without interference and interruptions.
The Governor also stressed to the general public to make better use of the upcoming water that is also soon to be launched adding that it is a public asset that should be properly managed to last longer. The governor urged the public to minimize backbites and work for the common good of the state.
On his part, Mr. Arthemon Nzeyomwa, the managing director of Ngali Energy from Rwanda, assured the general public that they will receive power in a few months.
Mr. Arthemon added that the Power Plant project will create job opportunity for many in the state and beyond.
He further thanked the state government for their continued support and the community for the close collaboration with Ngali Company.
The power plant was installed in 2005 by foreign companies who worked tirelessly and unfortunately didn’t power out. The power plant is therefore being worked on by about four companies including the state ministry of housing, land, and public utilities in Yambio western Equatoria state of which Ngali is responsible for surveying and cutting trees on the wire lines.
Al-Sabah is dealing with networking or pool installation and the Egyptian engineers are responsible for maintaining and installation of powering generators.
2023
Communicators in Western Equatoria State Urged to Use Communication as a “Bridge, not a Wall”
By Arkangelo Rangabia
Mr. Mande Daniel, Communication Skills Lecture at St. John Catholic University Yambio Campus on Monday morning urged Western Equatoria State Communicators to use communication as a” bridge, not as a wall”.
In his Monday, May 15 message on the anticipated occasion of the 57th World Communication Day (WCD), Mr. Mande said that communication is paramount as it builds good rapport among individuals and groups people through multiple sources such as the internet, social media platforms, and radio among others.
Speaking at Anisa Radio, Mr. Mande said, “the whole human life is existing by communicating the human need, vision, relationship and resolving differences stressing that youths should not forget to respect for each other in the media”.
He added that social media users to social media for development and peace rather than creating a negative impact on social media adding that some youth buy expensive social media facilities to use for unbeneficial yet in other world young people use social media to generate money through e-commerce, find jobs, transfer cash among others”.
Mr. Mande further called on the stakeholders to allow freedom of expression as through communication the citizens can be able to communicate their needs to the government and vice versa adding that a community where people are not allowed to speak is not a democratic community and development is not meeting the need of the people as such it will remain an impaired community.
2023
104 Participants Graduate at a Colorful Ceremony After Attending Two-Months Training on Trauma Healing and Stress Management
By Archangelo Rangabia
A total of 104 participants graduated with certificates after attending two months of training in trauma healing and stress management at Gangara-Emmilia North in Yambio Western Equatoria state on 13th May 2023.
The graduation ceremony started with marching from the villa football field escorted by Pax Brass Band which is a Catholic Diocesan Band with hundreds of followers to Gangara-Emmilia under the theme: “Equip and Edify Saint” as ministry equips the broken hearts with a message of hope and edify them to remain faithful to God the creator.
The two-month training was organized by Favor Africa Ministry International, a church-based organization that aims at providing psycho-social help for people that are affected by torture, massacre, and rape among others, and may lead to psychosis.
This graduation comes as the 6th graduation ceremony from Favor Africa Ministry International in Yambio County with the aim of continuing the training to communities beyond Yambio County. The training involved different denominations of which Muslims and Christians were the participants.
Testifying at the occasion one of the participants Amina Jadalla said, “The root causes of trauma are members of the community, armed forces, and family members, among others, and we should be responsible for healing the trauma as well. Healing the trauma caused by us does not necessarily require external material but our effort and emotions towards the affected person. We are now the community counselors, available at any time and ready to support our community”, Amina explained.
Anibiko Paride a participant in the training encouraged young people to be equipped with words of forgiveness and focus on their future in order to harvest a better future. He promises to sensitize more youth to form associations of peace and positive creativity as a way of fighting trauma among the youth.
Mr. Singba James, Headman and participant of the training thanked Favor Africa Ministry International for approaching the community of Gangara-Emmilia with such training stressing that it has created unity among people whose relationship might have been broken for one reason or another. He called on the participants to extend their knowledge and be able to manage stress and heal trauma at their different localities. Mr. James appealed to the organizers to once again organize the training in the same area but at a different location to help bring the community together.
Hipai Stella who spoke on behalf of the female attendants called on the government and other partners dealing with psycho-social to involve the graduates voluntarily to enable them to practice the acquired knowledge and skills adding that more people in the community around Yambio and beyond are traumatized due to the continues crises in the state and therefore need the availability of more counselors to build hope and minimize crimes.
On the other hand, Pitia Patrick male participants called on the public to speak out about trauma adding that keeping quiet about trauma kills more. He called on the government and partners to exercise both law and counseling when dealing with crimes especially massive crimes as basing on law may not solve crimes that may be caused as a result of trauma and stress.
Mr. Aljibna Ali, Coordinator for Favor Africa Ministry International thanked the community for welcoming the initiative and participation, the government entities for their continued support including other churches for standing united for the success of the training, promising that he will recommend the Ministry to continue with this support of healing the mind as to prepare a nation free of stress and trauma, “we are training government entities, church leaders regardless of their denominations, race and localities and nationality in respect of humanity’’ he called on the participant to be exemplary counselors and form counsellors’ associations to be available to the community rather than getting lost with the knowledge and skills.
The joyful event took lieu at Gangara-Emmilia North in the western part of Yambio WES on Saturday 13th May 2023 about 150m from the main road with 104 grandaunts of which the majority were females dressed in white shirts with black trousers or skirts. The selection of the participants was not based on their educational background but open to educated and uneducated. The graduation ended with awarding of certificates to the participants by the Ministry Administration, trainers, and the guest of Hon. Mr. Simon Sarawasi.
2023
“Prioritize Transparency and Do Not Misuse the Donations”, Says the Vicar General of CDTY to Project Executors
By Arkangelo Rangabia
The Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Tambura Yambio has called on project executors working under Diocesan institutions to always prioritize transparency and accountability to the donors. ‘’We take the responsibility to account for each and every donation, failure to do so, will lead to more sorrows and sadness’’ he said.
Speaking at the launching of the Borehole at St. Jude Catholic Chapel in Yambio County Western Equatoria State on Wednesday 10th May 2023 Rev. Fr. Thomas Bagbiowia the Vicar general in the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio stressed that partners not to chop the donations offered to benefit the suffered communities adding that the local community always suffer the consequences of un-impacted funded projects. ‘’proper accountability has to be done at all costs because when it is not done those who suffer are rather the community’’ he said.
Rev. Fr. Bagbiowia argued the local community to follow the measures set aside to guide the borehole, and committee to sustain the functionality of the water point. ‘’ the donors and CODEP partners have done their part, our roles are to administer, manage, maintain in order to sustain the water point for our own benefit’’
He called on the local authority to work in collaboration with the Chapel administration to sustain this project.
The vicar assured the partners of their proper accountability and transparency in delivering the proposed services expected of them to the beneficiaries adding that other partners should give an evidential accountability that lies with the project’s impact on the community in order to acquire blessings from God rather than curses. ‘’We take the responsibility to account for each and every donation, failure to do so, will lead to more sorrows and sadness’’ he said.
The launching of one of the seven proposed hand dug well took place at St. Jude Catholic Chapel under St. Augustine Catholic Parish on Wednesday 10th May 2023 where hundreds of community members gathered to witness the launching of the hand-dug well.
This project is designed to construct at least seven hand-dug wells in different communities in the Diocese where it had been hard for the communities to access clean water for better health. The occasion ended up with a blessing of the well by Vicar General Rev. Thomas Bagbiowia.